Book Signing Party Friday for
'A Miracle in the Mountains of Montana'

Elinor Williamson, above, with photo of the cover of
her first book. Photos by Deborah Stack

Book illustrations by Marlene Austin

Story by Gary Noland

Elinor Williamson will be signing copies of her first book,
a children's book based on the true story of two lost terrier
show dogs in the mountains near Seeley Lake, at the Filling Station
this Friday afternoon from 1 to 3 p.m.

The book, titled "Miracle in The Mountains of Montana,"
tells the true, heartwarming story, in adapted form, of two small,
pedigreed Cairn terriers (a mother and a daughter) who wondered
away from their home at Lake Inez four years ago and survived
for 8 days before being found near Lake Marshall, said publisher
Dale Burke of Stoneydale Press in Stevensville who printed an
initial 3,000 copies of the book that will be available in bookstores,
gift shops and other outlets.

Williamson has breathed life into this true tale by giving
the two dogs personalities with thoughts and conversationscity
puppies and dog show winners who wonder lost and afraid, yet brave,
in the darkness of the woods scurrying from the dangers of lions
and bears as in this quote from the book:

"Snuggled together, with daylight breaking, Tupper, with
one eye opened, noticed the looming shadow. She jumped to her
feet and barked loudly, startling Ursa. 'Run Ursa! It's a bear.'
Ursa didn't know what a bear was, but she ran as hard as she could."

The digest-size book is just over 60 pages and beautifully
illustrated with line drawings of the puppies and their adventures
by Seeley Lake artist, Marlene Austin. The front cover features
Montana mountains as a backdrop with an inset photo of the actual
dogs.

"What a great
job she (Austin) did," Williamson said. "Her illustrations
give the book life. How lucky I was to have found her."

Williamson was inspired to write the book when she became involved
helping the dog's owners when the puppies disappeared after going
outside at a Lake Inez cabin owned by Dr. Len Wilson, Karen Erickson
and family from Missoula.

The book has lessons for both adults and children, Williamson
said, like "taking responsibility for your actions and the
consequences."

That comes out in the first pages when the dogs realize they
are lost after chasing after a chipmunk:

"Be brave, Ursa, I'll get us home." Ursa replied.
"Oh Tupper, they'll call us 'teenagers' because we are out
so late and then, they will say we must be responsible for our
actions and take the consequences. I've heard our mistress say
that many times."

Williamson said the book is "...about courage and love,
about sticking together when things look hopeless. It's about
surviving against the odds."

The author, now a successful real estate agent, knows a lot
about struggling against the odds. She returned to high school
at age 31, drove a school bus loaded with kids to school, sat
in classes with her passengers, and compared grades with her own
kids at home. She graduated seventh in her class of 111 students
and once wrote a story, about dogs, that was voted best in her
class.

In the past year, Williamson and Renee Stowe founded the Paws
Up Safe Home in Seeley Lake to take in abandoned and lost dogs.
Williamson has always felt deeply for animals, especially dogs,
and a portion of book sales at the signing Friday will go to help
with costs at the Paws Up home in Seeley Lake, and at other book
signings around the state, a portion of proceeds will go to local
animal care facilities in each city.

Williamson hopes her book will contribute in some way to more
awareness and humane treatment for animals.

"Children who see animals abused, tied to trees and neglected,
grow up with those same views and the circle of abuse continues
and goes on to human beings. Children who are taught love and
compassion go on to become better people in our society,"
she feels.